The Official September Charlie Chat Thread TONIGHT AT 9PM!!!

[Scott Greczkowski]

Last night I noticed an ad for next Mondays Charlie Chat. It appears that Dish Network broke down and purchased the same software we are using for our DBSTalk.COM News Updates.

The ad look nice. :) (Almost as good as the woman in the Dish PPV ads) :D

Anyways this thread is for you to post your questions and comments that you would like to see discussed on on Mondays Charlie Chat.

Your comments will be read by the folks at Dish Network! So use your voice and express your concerns, comploments or complaints here.

Have fun!

[Mark Holtz]

Status of EchoStar 8. Will we see an improvement on picture quality?

West Coast Feeds. (I think I will get a letter composed today and mailed off today. )

Addition of C-SPAN 3, C-SPAN Radio, Yesterday USA Radio (or another old-time radio classics), AMC Classics, Goodlife TV, yadda yadda.

Also, the addition of the "missing" premium channels, including CineMax.

[Dickn]

I was wondering about the reported 921 receiver tht should be coming out soon. Will the receiver/PVR be a standalone unit, or will I continue to need the Model 6000 that I have? And... the new 8psk/8vsb addons that I just bought as a 6000 upgrade, will they be needed in the 921 or destined to become a dust collectors in the garage like my 3 other receivers?

Great service, and I just sold it to a friend who retired to the woods in Northern California. They currently receive one station OTA, and it's fuzzy... they are in love with Dish now.

[Scott Greczkowski]

Welcome DickN. :hi:

With 921 will be its own receiver, you will not need a Dish 6000 in order to get HD from the 921.

[DmitriA]

Originally posted by Z'Loth
Addition of C-SPAN 3, C-SPAN Radio, Yesterday USA Radio (or another old-time radio classics), AMC Classics, Goodlife TV, yadda yadda.

Dare I say Trio? :D
But C-SPAN3 would rule. I don't understand why they don't want to add it since it won't cost anything to them anyway and so many people seem to actually want it!

[Karl Foster]

Originally posted by DmitriA


Dare I say Trio? :D
But C-SPAN3 would rule. I don't understand why they don't want to add it since it won't cost anything to them anyway and so many people seem to actually want it!

I would second that! Trio is the best station on D* for a good variety of music programming. All weekend has been Jazzfest 2002. I have caught bits and pieces and it was awesome. Trio is a station E* subs should be anxious to get.

[Jacob S]

If its free then its a no brainer why people want it, even if they dont hardly watch it, its like a handout.

[Steve Mehs]

Ditto on C-SPAN3, I'd like to see it added too.

[Ronmort]

C-Span rules. Love to see C-Span3 added to Dish.

[Karl Foster]

Here's a question for Charlie - how many times will the word "merger" be used in this month's Charlie Chat?

[blingbling]

When will we see an improvement on picture quality?
When will we see an improvement on picture quality?
When will we see an improvement on picture quality?

Charlie, please answer the question without the word merger :).

[Geronimo]

Will any non Open TV receivers receive the update for local channel mapping in the "on dial" location? If so which receivers? What is the anticipated timeframe for this?

[cnsf]

Now that the baseball season is close to an end and the Nets season is starting, maybe we can get a real answer on the future of the YES network (also carries the Nets games) on Dish "if/when" the merger is canceled.

It will impact many NY/NJ/CT users on their decision to stay with E* or move to D*.

Two simple scenarios: 1) the merger is canceled and E* will/won't try to negotiate again with YES or 2) the merger goes through and E* will/won't inherit the YES contract from D* and carry it on E*.

[voyagerbob]

If the merger goes through when will my dish network and Direct TV bills be combined?

I would think it would be pretty fast since there would be no equipment involved. If it took say 3 months to do it would I get a credit on my bill from the time of the merger till the time it was done?

[voyagerbob]

How long after the merger would channels be offered on the one system that are only on the other? Or are these going to be held off until everything is combined?

Such as Oxygen, PBS Kids, and The Health Network being viewed on dish network equipment. And Style, NICK G&S, GAC, and the extra movie channels being viewed on Directtv equipment.

Thanks

[PeterB]

What are you going to do after the merger falls apart? :D

[razorbackfan]

Thank Jennifer, one of your CSR's for me. She was very very helpful, friendly and nice when I called this week to change some programming. And she answered the phone on the third ring which was a nice surprise.

[Scott Greczkowski]

When is Hartford going to be added to the locals? DirecTV Dishes are popping up here like weeds!

You missed your big chance here!

[cnsf]

Seems like they're doing that all over the NY Metro area...

I wonder what the stats are in DirecTV's signup rate vs. Dish in the NYC DMA? I'm sure the YES issue swayed a lot of new subs and got converts from cable to go with D*.

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by voyagerbob
If the merger goes through when will my dish network and Direct TV bills be combined?

I would think it would be pretty fast since there would be no equipment involved. If it took say 3 months to do it would I get a credit on my bill from the time of the merger till the time it was done?



I would think that as long as they are TWO SEPARATE SERVICES you will have to pay for both if you subscribe to both. I am not sure why you would expect a credit. Maybe I a m missing something.

[psecic]

Originally posted by PeterB
What are you going to do after the merger falls apart? :D

FOX will buy Directv & AOL or Disney will buy Dish. Would you like that??

[voyagerbob]

Originally posted by Geronimo




I would think that as long as they are TWO SEPARATE SERVICES you will have to pay for both if you subscribe to both. I am not sure why you would expect a credit. Maybe I a m missing something.


That is what every other merger I have gone through has done. When my banks have merged (twice) I've always been consolidated down to one bill once from day one the other they gave me a credit when they consolidated my bill two or three months later. I would have a fee for services at both (with far more different services than satellite has) then when the merger went through I would get both for the same fee that the lower company had even though both had provided different services.

Same thing with some broker firms that merged.

My SAT services are very darn close to the same. I get over 200 channels with each and I get the same 180 or so on each and I get about 5 general channels exclusive to each service plus some PI, religious, and news channels. So if not a full credit for each month at least a 75-90% credit.

[Jacob S]

Why would Dish and DirecTv charge you at the same time when you only have one service? If you have two services then I imagine that you would continue paying for both until there is only one signal and one platform. They would not make any money off of combining both bills into one when people, for the most part, only buy off of one service. Why would people buy the same channels off of two different providers? The only thing I can think of the reason why is because one would have a channel(s) that the other wouldnt.

[Geronimo]

Many people have both. In some cases they get only sports from DTV. In other cases well I do not know why but they do.

When one bank buys another the consolidation is usually quite rapid. If the primestar situation means anything this one may not be.


I would expect thati f you subscribe to both you will pay for both until they become one service. So you can expect any credit you want but I don't think it is going to happen. But that is just informed speculation on my part

[voyagerbob]

Originally posted by Jacob S
Why would Dish and DirecTv charge you at the same time when you only have one service? If you have two services then I imagine that you would continue paying for both until there is only one signal and one platform. They would not make any money off of combining both bills into one when people, for the most part, only buy off of one service. Why would people buy the same channels off of two different providers? The only thing I can think of the reason why is because one would have a channel(s) that the other wouldnt.


Yep. My wife wants PBS Kids, Oxygen, Style, Nick GAS and many others that both carry. The only way to get these is to subscribe to both.

I know that these exclusive channels cost some money but they will be basically double billing me for 90% of the services without a credit. I just ask that they consider that. And like you said there likely aren't many people that subscribe to both company's packages.

Not that I think for sure that they will, but they should.

Assuming the deal goes through, I would like to see them offer dish customers Directv Add-on's and the same for Directv cusomtomers. Offer to add a Directv exclusive channles package for say $2 to $5 (Trio, Newswold, PBS Kids, Health Network, Oxygen). And for Directtv customers (GAC, Nick G&S, Style).


Actually during the last Charlie Chat I asked the same quesion about people with both services and I was on hold to ask my question but the chat ended before I got the chance and no one was able to answer but were curious themselves as to what would happen.

[Darkman]

Originally posted by Scott Greczkowski
When is Hartford going to be added to the locals? DirecTV Dishes are popping up here like weeds!

You missed your big chance here!

hehe - Killex/Weedex/etc were known to work for them weeds...

[PeterB]

Originally posted by psecic


FOX will buy Directv & AOL or Disney will buy Dish. Would you like that??

Yes, because i would have my choice intact.

What makes GM or a combined Echostar any better of a company than AOLTW or Disney?

They are all greedy bastards, at least with 2 DBS companies I have a choice which one to send my $$$ too.

[jeffr]

Anyone know if this will be SERF'ed tonight? Or should I just plan on setting up my PVR to record it myself?

[Geronimo]

I hope this is not what Yogi Berra called "deja vu all over again" but I will bite what does "SERF'ed" mean?

[AkShark]

Charlie:

I purchased a dish system in May of this year, including a 6000 receiver. Now they are shipping with the 8PSK module at no extra charge. Will you upgrade mine too?

[dishrich]

Originally posted by Geronimo
Will any non Open TV receivers receive the update for local channel mapping in the "on dial" location? If so which receivers? What is the anticipated timeframe for this?

Sorry, but they have already said this is ONLY happening on the OpenTV/6000/721 receivers - the rest don't have enough memory to support this. (Plus, this is a good excuse to get you to buy a NEW OTV receiver so you can upgrade your prog package from your remote... :p :p :p )

[Jeremy]

I specifically choose DISH over DirecTV because I live in a NRTC area. What will happen to customers that live in an NRTC area if/when the merger is approved? What will happen to Pegasus (and other NRTC providers)? Will existing DISH customers that live in NRTC be forced to switch to Pegasus? Please address this issue on the Chat tonight!! Thank You!

[jeffr]

SERF = Stealth Event Record Feature. I have no experience with this but as I understand it the video is automatically downloaded to your PVR over night if your PVR is in standby mode. Evidently its the lowest priority and therefore will not interfere with any scheduled timers and if you do not have space it will not overwrite. Someone with experence might want to comment or correct my assumptions since I've never seen it before and built my assumption on past posts.

[angiodan]

HD NET, HD NET, HD NET!

I want to utilize that enhanced adapter for more than one channel!

[Dmitriy]

I want to know when the price for PVR 721 will go down.

[rolou21]

Inquired for tonight's chat question about interactive material for the 721...I was told it is ready to go for either late Sept. or Early Oct. timeframe.